STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The vibrant tapestry of Staten Island's Black community was on full display Saturday as hundreds came together to celebrate diversity and their links to a common past during Black Heritage Family Day.

An opening ceremony on the corner of Richmond Road and Vanderbilt Avenue in Clifton honored community leaders and celebrities.

Afterward, the parade threaded its way through North Shore streets to a day-long festival at Tappen Park, Stapleton. Among those recognized and honored at the ceremony was Marjorie Garvin, one of the parade's founders.

"This means everything to me," said Ms. Garvin, who received a proclamation from City Councilwoman Deborah Rose.

"We're trying to organize our group together and come back up a new nation, born again and recognizing that voting is the power, and coming together we can build jobs for our community."

Also recognized at the event was boxer Marcus Browne of Clifton, who represented Staten Island and the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

The tall, gracious athlete waved and smiled at the crowd of dozens of people in the street, who listened to speeches and got participants ready to march.

Bobby Digi, of Island Voice CEO and Crystal Weekes, also were honored for their leadership roles in the community.

"I'm really excited, and I'm glad that I'm being honored," said Ms. Weekes, who won a second consecutive gold medal in sparring this summer for the AAU National Team in the fourth Costa Rica Open International Tae Kwon Do Championships.

Another event organizer, Minnie Graham, spoke about the many diverse cultures originally from Africa who came together Saturday.

"We're supporting and unifying, and we're showing our community here on Staten Island that we can come together and share and support one another," Ms. Graham said.

"We have Jamaicans, Liberians, Trinidadians all that originated from the continent of Africa so this is a way to bring us all together."

"The first thing we need to do to reclaim our community is to stop the violence in our community," Ms. Rose said.

"We have to make a concerted effort to reclaim our community and our children, and then I want you to empower your minds. I want you to empower your community by voting. That's the best way to have your voices heard."

As drum beats filled the air and the parade marched down a sparsely populated Vanderbilt Avenue, curious onlookers came for the beats and stayed for the parade.

"I'm here to support the community," said Joseph Cox of Clifton. "I'm black and I'm proud. I love it all; I celebrate everything. Wherever the music's at, I follow the beat."

Unity, freedom and family brought Clifton resident Richard Watson, owner of Stephanie and Cash Tasty Crumbs Catering, to the parade.

"It doesn't matter what color you are, what race you are, it's about being people, not just skin color," Watson said.

Imara Moore of Grasmere was hired by the organizers to photograph the parade, but she took a brief moment to share her thoughts in between photos.

"I think it's amazing," Ms. Moore said. "I was born and raised on the Island, and this is the first time I've ever seen a parade that goes through Park Hill and Stapleton.

"It might not draw the crowds as Forest Avenue does, but it's so monumental and special for the children who are born and raised in this community."

The parade stepped off just before noon, heading north on Vanderbilt Avenue to Bay Street. At Tappen Park in Stapleton, revelers celebrated at the "We Are Family Festival," where entertainment, food and community information delighted parade-goers until the early evening. 